“Pringles” history

“Pringles” were invented and first sold in 1968 in October in USA, but they were not sold across America till mid – 1970s. According to the patent, the inventor of Pringles brand potato chips was reputed Alexander Liepa from Montgomery, Ohio. It is produced by the company “Procter & Gamble”. At the beginning the potato chips had the name of “Pringle’s Newfangled Potato Chips”, but due to the entering national market it was changed. Now the global brands of “Pringles” are available in more than 100 different countries all over the world and they come in 45 flavours. Currently the potato chip or “crisps” snack is produced in North America in Jackson, Tennessee and also in Europe in Mechelen, Belgium. The name of “Pringles” was chosen from a Cincinnati telephone book. Pringle Avenue in Finneytown was available for trademark, and its pleasant sound appealed to the brand (brand.http://www.uk.pg.com/products/products/pringles.html).

Marketing side

“Pringles” is the biggest brand of “Proctor & Gamble” earning over $1bn year in revenues. It is advertised in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Republic of Ireland with the slogan “Once you pop, you can’t stop” and elsewhere with the slogan “Everything pops with Pringles.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pringles). The potato chips of “Pringles” are famous of their different and unusual packaging. It is a tubular can with a foil interior, and a resealable plastic lid; it also has a famous logo, a stylized representation of a man with a large moustache and parted bangs. (http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/pringles/). All “Pringles” potato chips are made in the same size and packed in a can carefully, one on each not to be crushed like the chips in a bags. The way of this packaging was invented by Fredric J. Baur, who at that time worked for the “Procter & Gamble” company in a research, development and quality control department as an organic chemist and food storage technician.

Different ways of using “Pringles” box

Because of the cardboard tube packaging, the crisp box can be used like a great Wi-Fi antenna. In some cases it is also used as a storage box for small stuff or even for the clothes. For instance, the comedian Dilbert rolls his cloths in a “Pringles” box that later he could change at work or in the car. Sport people can find it useful too, because the can is just the size of three tennis balls. “Pringles” cans are always colorful, interesting and different, so there are quite a lot of people just simply collecting them.

Flavours

“Pringles” are also unique of their wide ranger of flavour and according to the countries needs and traditions, different flavours in different countries, limited market areas:

United States

• Original
• Sour Cream & Onion
• Jalapeño
• Prints
• White Cheddar
• Chili Cheese
• Pizza-licious
• Cheezums
• Ranch
• Spicy Cajun
• Fiery Hot
• Barbecue
• Salt & Vinegar
• Reduced Fat Original
• Reduced Fat Sour Cream & Onion
• Fat Free Original
• Fat Free Sour Cream & Onion

Current permanent European flavors (from the UK website):

• Original
• Paprika
• Sour Cream & Onion
• Salt & Vinegar
• Cheese & Onion
• Hot & Spicy
• Texas Barbecue Sauce
• Cheese
• Tomato & Mozzarella
• Light Original
• Light Sour Cream & Onion

Current Japan flavors (from the Japan website):

• “Lightly Salted Flavor”
• Sour Cream & Onion
• French Consommé (new)

Partial list of discontinued limited edition flavors :

• Cheddar and Sour Cream
• Chili Cheese
• Crunchy Dill (2005 flavor)
• Crushed Pepper
• Jalapeno
• Hickory BBQ
• Salt & Pepper
• Smokey BBQ
• Southwestern Salsa
• Thai Sweet Chilli
• Wisconsin White Cheddar

(http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/pringles/)

Moreover, there are few other varieties of this product such as “Pringles Select”, “Pringles Light Aromas”, “Pringles Rice infusions” and “Fat Free Pringles”. There are several sizes of cans of 23g, 50g, 80g, 100g, 145g, 150g, 155g, 160g, 163g, 181g and 230g.

Interesting facts

• “Pringles” are a marketing case study in packaging innovation.
• In 1982 in a “Pringles” commercial appeared one of the famous persons in the world – Brad Pitt.
• “Pringles” can’s inventor Fredric J. Baur was so proud of his creation that he requested his children to buried him in it. Baur passed on March 4, 2008 and his family put some of the ashes in a Pringles can, and the rest in a traditional urn.
• In the eyes of the High Court in London “Pringles” snacks were adjudge to be not potato crips. As the consequence the company doesn’t need to pay a value-added tax, what influence the price increase too.
• In 2007 “Proctor & Gamble” start selling “Pringles Minis”. It was unusual for the “Pringles” fans, because new chips were packed in a small bag instead of tubular can. The shape of the chips was exactly the same, just smaller in size.